A Reckless Character eBook

“Suddenly the energetic trampling of horses’
hoofs resounded along the street: it was the
Commander-in-Chief himself riding by with his staff.
He was proceeding at a foot-pace,—­a fat,
pot-bellied man, with drooping head and epaulets dangling
on his breast.

“The housewife caught sight of him, and flinging
herself across his horse’s path, she fell on
her knees and, all distraught, with head uncovered,
began loudly to complain of my orderly, pointing to
him with her hand:

“Egor was standing on the threshold of the house,
drawn up in military salute, with his cap in his hand,—­and
had even protruded his breast and turned out his feet,
like a sentry,—­and not a word did he utter!
Whether he was daunted by all that mass of generals
halting there in the middle of the street, or whether
he was petrified in the presence of the calamity which
had overtaken him,—­at any rate, there stood
my Egor blinking his eyes, and white as clay!

“The Commander-in-Chief cast an abstracted and
surly glance at him, bellowing wrathfully: ’Well,
what hast thou to say?’.... Egor stood like
a statue and showed his teeth! If looked at in
profile, it was exactly as though the man were laughing.

“Then the Commander-in-Chief said abruptly:
’Hang him!’—­gave his horse
a dig in the ribs and rode on, first at a foot-pace,
as before, then at a brisk trot. The whole staff
dashed after him; only one adjutant, turning round
in his saddle, took a close look at Egor.

“It was impossible to disobey.... Egor
was instantly seized and led to execution.

“Thereupon he turned deadly pale, and only exclaimed
a couple of times, with difficulty, ’Good heavens!
Good heavens!’—­and then, in a low
voice—­’God sees it was not I!’

“He wept bitterly, very bitterly, as he bade
me farewell. I was in despair.—­’Egor!
Egor!’ I cried, ’why didst thou say nothing
to the general?’

“‘God sees it was not I,’ repeated
the poor fellow, sobbing.—­The housewife
herself was horrified. She had not in the least
expected such a dreadful verdict, and fell to shrieking
in her turn. She began to entreat each and all
to spare him, she declared that her hens had been
found, that she was prepared to explain everything
herself....

“Of course, this was of no use whatsoever.
Military regulations, sir! Discipline!—­The
housewife sobbed more and more loudly.

“Egor, whom the priest had already confessed
and communicated, turned to me:

“’Tell her, Your Well-Born, that she must
not do herself an injury.... For I have already
forgiven her.’”

As my friend repeated these last words of his servant,
he whispered: “Egorushka[76] darling, just
man!”—­and the tears dripped down his
aged cheeks.